Guildford

Guildford's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Guildford increased by 5.8%, from just under 130,000 to 137,000.

The addition of just under 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Guildford was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Guildford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Guildford increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This affluent suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 2,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 10% of people in Guildford are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

Guildford saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households in Guildford had only one person, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.2% to 9.3%.

Across the region, only Brighton and Hove saw a greater fall in the proportion of one-person households (from 39% to 36%).

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Guildford

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 30% said they had no religion. An increase from 18% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Guildford.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Guildford that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 95,000 in 2001 to about 83,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 9,300 to about 11,000 (from 7.2% to 7.7%).

About 2,700 people (0.9%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,100 in 2001 (2.0%).

The population without a religion in Guildford increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Guildford

The percentage of Guildford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.0%, while the percentage of Guildford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Guildford

In 2011, 91% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 96% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Guildford.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Guildford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,600 in 2001 to about 6,600 in 2011 (from 2.0% to 4.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,200 to about 2,500 (from 0.9% to 1.8%).

Just over 1,700 people (0.5%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from about 680 in 2001 (1.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Guildford decreased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Guildford, but at a slower rate than in Rushmoor (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Guildford).

In Guildford, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Rushmoor increased from 11% to 18%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Guildford increased from 12% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 69%.

Private renting in Guildford increased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Guildford, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Guildford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Guildford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 9.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Guildford decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Guildford, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Guildford with children increased from 27% to 29% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62%) households had no children, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of households in Guildford with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.8% to 8.7%.

The proportion of households with children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Guildford

The percentage of married people fell in Guildford, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Guildford, the proportion of married people decreased from 51% in 2001 to 50% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 51% to 47%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Guildford increased from 33% to 35%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.9% to 9.4%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Guildford residents that were studying increased from 3.6% to 4.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of Guildford residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.7%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Guildford increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Guildford, the South East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Guildford working less than 16 hours increased from 2.5% to 3.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Guildford increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Guildford, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Guildford residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, 1.5% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Guildford remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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